Spotlighting risk factors for severe acute malnutrition under 5 years: a case control study

Background: To determine and analyse the risk factors leading to severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children under 5 years of age attending nutritional rehabilitation centre of our hospital.Methods: This questionnaire based case control study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2016 on SAM children. For comparison children attending outpatient department without any evidence of malnutrition were included. These SAM children were admitted to the nutritional rehabilitation centre of Cheluvamba Hospital attached to Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka.Results: A total of 103 SAM cases were compared with 100 controls. The sociodemographic risk factors were age less than 2 yrs, more family members (55.3% had 5 to 8 members), Birth spacing less than 2 years (39.8%), open air defecation (37.9%) and living in kucha house (32%). The dietary risk factors which were statistically significant were poor appetite (33%), prelacteal feed (19.4%), lack of exclusive breast feeding (42.7%), discontinuing breast feed before 2 years (74.8%), receiving complementary feed before 6 months (67%), bottle feeding (32%), calorie deficit (79.6%), protein deficit (66%) and feeding difficulty (17.5%).Conclusions: The social risk factors identified in this study were large family size, low income, more number of siblings and living standards like type of house, open air defecation. The nutritional risk factors were giving prelacteal feed, not giving exclusive breast feeding until 6 months, starting complementary feed before 6 months and giving food low in calories and protein.

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Determinants of severe acute malnutrition among children under 5 years of age in Nepal: a community-based case–control study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017084 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. e017084 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Nilesh Kumar Pravana ◽

Suneel Piryani ◽

Surendra Prasad Chaurasiya ◽

Rasmila Kawan ◽

Ram Krishna Thapa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Educational Level ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Complementary Feeding ◽

Severe Acute Malnutrition ◽

Case Control ◽

Acute Malnutrition ◽

Community Based ◽

Mother’S Age ◽

Age At Birth ◽

Control Study

BackgroundMalnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of 5 years in low and middle income countries like Nepal. Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are nine times more likely to die than children without malnutrition. The prevalence of SAM has increased in Nepal over the past 15 years; however, the determinants of SAM have not been clearly assessed in the country.ObjectiveTo assess the determinants of SAM among children aged 6–59 months in the Bara district of Nepal.SettingA community-based case–control study was conducted in 12 randomly selected Village Development Committees (VDCs) of the Bara district of Nepal.ParticipantsA random sample of 292 children aged 6–59 months (146 as cases and 146 as controls) from 12 VDCs were included in this study.ResultsThe prevalence of SAM among children under the age of 5 years was 4.14%. The following factors were significantly associated with SAM: low socioeconomic status (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 17.13, 95% CI 5.85 to 50.13); mother’s age at birth <20 or >35 years (AOR 3.21, 95% CI 1.30 to 7.94); birth interval <24 months (AOR 4.09, 95% CI 1.87 to 8.97); illiterate father (AOR 3.65, 95% CI 1.62 to 8.20); bottle feeding (AOR 2.19, 95% CI 1.73 to 12.03); and not initiating complementary feeding at the age of 6 months (AOR 2.91, 95% CI 1.73 to 12.03). Mother’s educational level, initiation of breastfeeding, colostrum feeding, and exclusive breastfeeding were not significantly associated with SAM.ConclusionThe mother's age at birth, birth interval, socioeconomic status, father’s educational level and initiation of complementary feeding at the age of 6 months were important determinants of SAM among children. A multi-sector approach is essential to address SAM. There is a need for further studies not only focusing on SAM but also moderate acute malnutrition.

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